Can-opener



I (No Model.)

H. J. KELDER'.

7 CAN OPENER. V i No. 543306. v Patented Ju1y'Z3, 1895.

' citizen of the United States, residing at Ellen-- UNITE STATE ATENfr Fries.

HOWARD J. KELDER, OF ELLENVILLE, NEWYORK.

CAN-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 543,306, dated July 23, 1895.

Application filed May 4, 1895. Serial No. 548,130. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HOWARD J. KELDER, a

ville, in the county of Ulster and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Can-Opener, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in can-openers.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described, which shall be adjustable for the purpose of adapting the same to cut through the material of the can at any desired distance from the upper edge or corner thereof.

Another object of the invention is to form the handle in such manner that greater leverage is obtained than heretofore.

To accomplish the above objects the invention consists in certain novel features and details of construction, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and embodied in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an improved can-opener constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the handle-casting, showing the arrangement of the rounded shoulder or bearing-face thereof.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in both figures of the draw lngs.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates a suitable handle, which is preferably made in the open-loop form shown in the drawings and cast from iron or anysuitable metal. The upper portion of the handle is rounded off, as shown, to protect the hand of the operator, and the lower end is shouldered, as indicated at 2, and provided with a downward extension 3, projecting below the shoulder 2 and provided with a threaded perforation 4., adapted to receive a thumb-screw 5. The shoulder 2 is rounded off from side to side, as shown, and serves as a bearing-face upon which the device maybe rocked in its progress around the edge of a can, thereby affording greater leverage and facilitating the cutting of the heavier grades of tin and thin sheet metal. The handle is also notched, as indicated at 6, to receive a knife-blade 7, secured in place'by means of a through-rivet 8, or in for removing the contents of the can.

any convenient manner. The blade 7 is pointed and sharpened upon both edges, so that it may be used in either hand and operated in either direction.

By means of the construction above described it will be apparent that by adjusting the set-screw 5 the distance which the knife is to cut from the edge of the can may be regulated as desired or as may be rendered necessary by reason of the material of the can being thicker adjacent to the edge. Besides this it is desirable and often necessary to cut nearer to the edge of a small can than a large one, in orderto leave an opening of the necessary size By the adjustment of the set-screw referred to this .can be readily accomplished. By rounding off the shoulder 2, as explained, the leverage of the device is equalized no matter at what angle the device may be operating. This rounded shoulder is so disposedwith relation to the set-screwand the cutting-blade thatno matter what distance the blade is operating from the edge of the can the rounded shoulder will bear'against said edge.

The device described is very simple and inexpensive in construction, and will be found Very convenient and efficient in operation.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

In acan opener, the handle thereof provided with a downward extension formed integrally therewith and projecting below the bearing shoulder of the device, a pointed blade disposed opposite to said downward extension and secured to the handle, and a rounded shoulder arranged at the lower end of the handle between said blade and downward extension, in combination with an adjustable thumb screw operating through a threaded perforation in said downward extension, whereby the distance which said blade cuts from the edge of the can may be regulated, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses. HOWARD J. KELDER. Witnesses:

TULLY I-I. GRAY, SAMUEL B. Low. 

